Texas Penal Code
Sec. 1.02. OBJECTIVES OF CODE. The general purposes of this code
are to establish a system of prohibitions, penalties, and
correctional measures to deal with conduct that unjustifiably and
inexcusably causes or threatens harm to those individual or public
interests for which state protection is appropriate. To this end,
the provisions of this code are intended, and shall be construed,
to achieve the following objectives:
(1) to insure the public safety through:
(A) the deterrent influence of the penalties hereinafter
provided;
(B) the rehabilitation of those convicted of violations of this
code; and
(C) such punishment as may be necessary to prevent likely
recurrence of criminal behavior;
(2) by definition and grading of offenses to give fair warning
of what is prohibited and of the consequences of violation;
(3) to prescribe penalties that are proportionate to the
seriousness of offenses and that permit recognition of differences
in rehabilitation possibilities among individual offenders;
(4) to safeguard conduct that is without guilt from condemnation
as criminal;
(5) to guide and limit the exercise of official discretion in
law enforcement to prevent arbitrary or oppressive treatment of
persons suspected, accused, or convicted of offenses; and
(6) to define the scope of state interest in law enforcement
against specific offenses and to systematize the exercise of state
criminal jurisdiction.
